About

Math Circles bring pre-college students together with mathematically passionate instructors in an informal setting to work on interesting problems or topics encouraging a sense of discovery and excitement about mathematics.

An instructor writes mathematics formulas on a green chalkboard.

A math circle is a social structure where participants engage in the depths and intricacies of mathematical thinking, propagate the culture of doing mathematics, and create knowledge. To reach these goals, participants partake in problem-solving, mathematical modeling, the practice of art, and philosophical discourse. Some circles involve competition, others do not; all promote camaraderie.

National Association of Math Circles Wiki

History

From Eastern Europe to Stanford University

The Math Circle movement migrated from Eastern Europe to the United States in the 1990s. Today, more than 180 Math Circle programs operate across the country. Math Circles vary greatly in their style and the students they serve, but they share common goals of bringing mathematicians together with students to expose them to mathematical reasoning and problem solving beyond that normally encountered in traditional school classes.

Stanford Math Circles were founded in 2005. For the past 15 years, we have engaged with more than 900 pre-collegiate students. The Stanford Math Circle is jointly sponsored by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies and the Stanford University Department of Mathematics.